Spanning 97.3 miles across the Kansas plains, this straightforward trek between Hays and Salina typically takes about 1 hour and 42 minutes to complete. You will primarily utilize the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, making it a perfect candidate for a single-day trip that requires no overnight stops. Budget roughly $15 for fuel to cover the journey through this heartland region. Because the total duration is quite short, you have plenty of flexibility in your schedule to head out whenever it suits you. It is a practical, efficient connection that links two key points in the Great Plains without any unnecessary detours.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
48.6 miles from Hays, KS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 51m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
90.9 mi
1h 30m
I 135
1.8 mi
1m
West State Street
1.3 mi
2m
North Vine Street
0.8 mi
1m
Main Street
0.5 mi
1m
West Iron Avenue
0.5 mi
1m
West 27th Street
0.2 mi
<1m
Old US 40
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
— 90.9 mi, about 1h 30m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Hays, KS and Salina, KS.
1
Start on this road
292 ft·26 sec·this road
2
Turn left onto Main Street
0.1 mi·16 sec·Main Street
3
Continue on Main Street
0.4 mi·1 min·Main Street
4
Turn right onto West 27th Street
0.2 mi·26 sec·West 27th Street
5
Turn left onto US 183
0.5 mi·1 min·North Vine Street
6
Enter roundabout onto US 183
346 ft·8 sec·North Vine Street
7
Continue on US 183
0.2 mi·28 sec·North Vine Street
8
Enter roundabout onto US 183
127 ft·2 sec·North Vine Street
9
Continue on US 183
342 ft·8 sec·North Vine Street
10
Continue on US 183
14 ft·0 sec·North Vine Street
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi·23 sec
12
Merge onto I 70; US 40
91 mi·1 hr 30 min·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
13
Take the exit
0.4 mi·36 sec
Toward I 135 South, US 81 South: Wichita
14
Merge onto I 135; US 81
1.8 mi·1 min·I 135; US 81
15
Take the exit
0.2 mi·33 sec
Toward KS 140
16
Turn left onto Old US 40
492 ft·9 sec·Old US 40
17
Continue on West State Street
0.4 mi·39 sec·West State Street
18
Keep slight right at fork
428 ft·9 sec
19
Turn straight onto West State Street
0.9 mi·1 min·West State Street
20
Turn right onto North College Avenue
379 ft·15 sec·North College Avenue
21
Turn left onto West Iron Avenue
0.5 mi·1 min·West Iron Avenue
22
Turn right onto South 8th Street
92 ft·3 sec·South 8th Street
23
Arrive at destination
South 8th Street
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively quick trip of under two hours, you do not need to worry about complex pacing or multiple rest stops. Plan your departure based on your personal preference, as there are no major bottlenecks that demand a specific time of day. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge before leaving Hays, as the $15 cost estimate assumes a standard vehicle efficiency for the 97.3-mile distance. Because you are mostly on major thoroughfares, stay alert for changing speed limits as you transition onto local roads like West State Street. Take advantage of the short duration to remain flexible with your arrival time, allowing you to easily adjust your schedule if traffic patterns shift.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 48.6 miles from Hays, KS, or about 51m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 90.9 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 21 miles or 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 48.6 miles or 51m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 22m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Salina, KS than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Hays, KS so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Hays, KS
This is one driving day of about 97.3 miles and 1h 42m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 21 miles from Hays, KS.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway for about 90.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 92.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|Main Street
Turn left onto Main Street
Navigation decision point
4
0.6 mi into trip|~1m in|West 27th Street
Turn right onto West 27th Street
Navigation decision point
4
1.3 mi into trip|~3m in|US 183 / North Vine Street
Enter roundabout onto US 183 / North Vine Street
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
1.6 mi into trip|~3m in|US 183 / North Vine Street
Enter roundabout onto US 183 / North Vine Street
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
92.8 mi into trip|~1h 35m in
Take the exit toward I 135 South, US 81 South: Wichita
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 135 South, US 81 South: Wichita
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$15.21 one way
$30.42 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg34 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$16.70
$33.40
premium
$4.89
$18.72
$37.45
diesel
$5.61
$21.48
$42.97
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$15
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$40–$65
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 34 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
29.2
0
$10.22
$4.67
Efficient EV
24.3
0
$8.51
$3.89
EV Truck/SUV
38.9
0
$13.62
$6.23
Gas CO2
34 kg
EV CO2
11 kg (68% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Hays, KS
Late night
in Hays on Sunday
Local time
3:00 AM
CDT
Current temp
85°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Salina, KS
Late night
in Salina on Sunday
Local time
3:00 AM
CDT
Current temp
81°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
54°F
Ellsworth, KS
49 mi in
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
4 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 42m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a drive defined by a massive 90.9-mile stretch along the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, which accounts for the bulk of your travel time. While the highway dominates the majority of the journey, the route transitions into a turn-heavy local drive as you navigate toward your destination using I-135 and West State Street. With a highway share of two, you will experience a mix of steady cruising and more technical maneuvers near the arrival point. The transition from high-speed interstate travel to local roads keeps the experience engaging without being overwhelming. You will feel the landscape shift as you move through this open, expansive region of the state.
Only 2% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 90.9 mi on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 14 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Main Street.
Driving Effort6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 97.3 miles you will encounter 14 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.6 miles (West 27th Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.3 miles (US 183 / North Vine Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 42m. Total distance: 97.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 42m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 90.9 miles on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Salina, KS before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.6 miles (West 27th Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.3 miles (US 183 / North Vine Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Salina, KS before heading back.
